As we prepare for the beginning of telephonic settlement approval hearings next week, we’d like to remind you of the telephone numbers our judges and staff use for conference calls, listed below.

These telephone numbers were also listed in the links to Monday’s post outlining the Court’s efforts to continue serving employees and employers to the best of our ability as COVID-19 forces the closure of many businesses. Please re-read the protocols for your scheduled settlements beforehand. Also, electronic signatures on documents are acceptable.

Now a little advice about the use of the conference lines. If you’re the first caller, you’ll hear the phone ringing until someone else joins the call. So just wait while it rings. If you’re early, it might ring for a minute or two. Conversely, if a hearing exceeds the time we’ve allotted, and you call on time for your case, please stay on the line while the other hearing concludes. The judge will get to your case as soon as possible.

Also—infrequently—parties or lawyers have informed us that they called the local line but were unable to get through. If this happens to you, try the toll-free number instead.

Finally, keep in mind that these are conference lines only. You can’t leave a message, and if you’re calling at a time other than when you’re scheduled, the chances are good that no one will pick up. So if you’re a self-represented litigant with procedural questions, do not call the numbers above. Rather, call an ombudsman at 800-332-2667.

Again, we thank you for your patience as we navigate this challenging situation.